The First Year: Development of Preservice Teacher Beliefs About Teaching and Learning During Year One of an MA TESOL Program

Author

Emily Spady Addiego, Portland State UniversityFollow

Sponsor

Portland State University. Department of Applied Linguistics

First Advisor

Susan Conrad

Date of Publication

Spring 6-28-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Department

Applied Linguistics

Language

English

Subjects

English language --Study and teaching -- Foreign speakers, Student teachers -- Attitudes -- Longitudinal studies, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Teachers -- Training of -- Attitudes

DOI

10.15760/etd.985

Physical Description

1 online resource (v, 101 pages)

Abstract

This qualitative, longitudinal study followed four first-year MA TESOL students through their initial year in a teacher training program with the goal of determining whether their overall beliefs about teaching and learning changed over time as a result of program curriculum and other outside factors. An analysis of semi-structured interviews with each participant, conducted one to two times per quarter, revealed that participants' beliefs appeared to evolve as a result of coursework and teaching practice. Participants' identities as teachers also showed signs of evolution and development. The participants attributed the majority of their development to hands-on teaching practice, though there was evidence that they began to integrate more theoretical aspects of program curriculum by the end of the year. However, the participants also demonstrated a lack of interest in theoretical and research-related coursework that persisted throughout their first year. Participants' lack of interest and stress brought on by unfamiliar material may have limited the amount of integration of research and theory into their practice. Findings suggest a mismatch between program goals and student goals, with students being focused on teaching practice and the program being focused on both the practical and theoretical aspects of the curriculum.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/9830

Recommended Citation

Addiego, Emily Spady, "The First Year: Development of Preservice Teacher Beliefs About Teaching and Learning During Year One of an MA TESOL Program" (2013). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 985.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.985